to Allah (s.w.t.
) for the repayment of his debts saying
SECTION TWO
Benefits of reciting various verses of the Holy Qur’an
Verses to be recited after prayers
Some actions are to be performed after the
completion of every compulsory prayer and these are
called Ta’qibaat. Out of the numerous actions that have
been recommended, there are a few verses of the Holy
Qur’an that have also been prescribed and carry much
reward if recited after the daily prayers.
The following is a list of the verses that should be
recited and a note of the reward gained for the recitation
of each one.
1. Ayah ash-Shahada (Surah Ale Imran : 18-19)
In the commentary of Majma’ul Bayaan, it is narrated
from the Holy Prophet that those who recite this ayah
make a covenant with Allah (s.w.t.) and Allah always
fulfils His covenants. If this ayah is recited after every
prayer, then Jannah is guaranteed to the reciter.
2. Ayah al-Mulk (Surah Ale Imran : 26-27)
It is narrated that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) once
advised one of his companions, who was in debt, to
recite this ayah after every prayer and then supplicate
that even if the debts are equal to the entire land on
Earth, they will be repaid.
3. Ayah al-Kursi (Surah al-Baqarah : 255-257)
It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) that there
is no barrier between the person who recites this ayah
after every prayer and Jannah except for death ie. he
will be taste the pleasures of Jannah immediately
after his death, and only that person will be able to
recite it who is pious and righteous.
4. Ayah al-Madhkurah (Surah ar-Rum : 17-22)
Whoever recites this after every compulsory prayer
will get a reward equal to drops of rain and grains of
sand. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) has highly
recommended the recitation of this ayah especially
during the early morning and evening times.
5. Ayah as-Sakhrah (Surah A’araaf : 54)
This should also be recited after every prayer. The
benefit of reciting this ayah is that it acts as a
protection from Shaitan. It is said that the one who
recites this ayah is protected against the plots of
Shaitan even if he is alone in the desert.
Other recitations are also recommended, for example,
it is said in a narration that whoever recites surah at-
Tawheed after prayers will wed a Hur-ul-Ein in Jannah.
It is recommended that surah at-Tawheed be recited ten
times after every prayer and this leads to being forgiven
be Allah (s.w.t.) and being blessed with the good of this
world and the hereafter.
For the sake of brevity, here is a list of ayaat and
surahs that are also recommended to be recited after
prayers :
a) Surah al-Ahzaab : 56
b) Surah al-Baqarah : 285-286
c) Surah al-Kahf : 109-110
d) Surah as-Saffaat : 1-10 and then the last three ayaat.
e) Surah ar-Rahman : 33-36
f) Surah al-Hashr : 21-24
g) Surah al-An’aam : 1-3
h) Surah al-Falaq, an-Naas, ar-Rahman al-Qadr, al-
Fatehah, Yaseen, al-Waaqiyah, al-Mulk, ad-Dahar and
an-Naba are all recommended.
Verses to be recited before sleeping
It is narrated that whoever recites [surah al-Fatir :
41] before going to sleep is kept safe from the collapse of
his home on top of him. Imam Ali (a.s.) has said that if a
person recites [surah al-A’araaf : 196] and [surah az-
Zumar : 67] before going to sleep, he will be safe from
drowning (if he is sleeping on a ship) or burning (in his
home).
Recitation of [surah al-Kahf : 110] is good for
making a person wake up at a particular time. All that has
to be done is to make an intention of the exact time you
wish to wake up and then recite this ayah before
sleeping. Surah at-Takathur is also recommended and the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said that whoever recites it before
sleeping will be saved from the horrors of the grave.
Recitations specifically for Thursday nights and
Fridays
It is recorded that if a person recites surah Bani-
Isra’il on Thursday night, he will meet the 12 th Imam
(a.t.f.) and will be among his companions. The one who
recites surah al-Kahf will die a martyr and will be raised
with the martyrs on the Day of Judgement.
Whoever recites surah Saad on Thursday night will
be blessed with good in this world and good in the
hereafter to such an extent that nobody except the
prophets and those who are very close to Allah (s.w.t.)
will get a similar reward.
If surah ad-Dukhan is recited on this night, all his
sins will be forgiven. He will get the reward equivalent to
that of freeing a thousand slaves for each letter he recites
and seventy thousand angels will pray for his sins to be
forgiven. The one who recites surah al-Waqi’ah will be
counted from the friends of Allah (s.w.t.). The other
surahs that have been recommended on Thursday nights
are surah an-Naml, al-Qasas and Hamim Sajdah.
On the day of Friday, the surahs that are highly
recommended are surah al-Ikhlaas, an-Naas, al-Falaq, at-
Tawba, al-Kahf, as-Saffaat, ar-Rahman, an-Nisaa, Hud
and al-Qadr. All these carry great reward and should be
recited if possible. Imam Ali (a.s.) has said that whoever
recites surah an-Nisaa on Fridays will be protected from
the torments of the grave. The one who recites surah Hud
will be counted with the prophets and messengers and his
sins will be forgiven.
The benefit of reciting surah al-Kahf is that all sins
of the past week are forgiven. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.)
said that if a person recites surah as-Saffaat on this day,
he will be protected from all calamities and misfortunes.
The one who recites surah ar-Rahman will have a shining
face on the Day of Judgement.
It is also recommended to recite [at-Tawba :128-
129] and [al-Hashr : 21-24] on Friday mornings.
Recitations for increase in sustenance
It is narrated that writing surah al-Mu’min at night
and then keeping it in one’s place of business increases
sustenance. Keeping surah al-Hijr in one’s pocket or tied
to the arm is also a means of increase in livelihood. Surah
al-Qaari’ah should be worn around the neck and surah al-
Waaqi’ah should be recited every night to stay
independent in terms of earning an income. Reciting
surah adh-Dhariyaat every day also increases sustenance.
Writing [al-Fatir : 29-30] and keeping it at the
place of trade also acts as a means of increase in income.
Keeping [al-Jumu’ah : 4] together with your goods for
sale brings blessing and keeps the goods safe from
damage. Drinking water in which surah Yusuf has been
dissolved (after writing) also increases sustenance.
Verses that help to quickly repay debts
As mentioned earlier, ayah al-Mulk [Ale Imran :
26-27] should be recited for those who wish to repay
their debts. One should recite this ayah and then
supplicate to Allah (s.w.t.) that he wishes to repay his
debts and seeks help for doing so. For the same purpose,
the last two verses of surah al-Baqarah should also be
recited after every ‘Isha prayer.
The recitation of ayah al-Kursi after every prayer
and reciting surah al-Waaqi’ah 41 times are other means
of getting divine assistance in the repaying of debts.
In Conclusion…
It would be right to argue that the material
presented in this book is in no way exhaustive. There is
much more benefit in the recitation of the Holy Qur’an
than can be imagined or perceived. What you have read
is just a drop in the ocean, but it should be enough to
convince anyone to read Qur’an more regularly and try to
ponder over it.
In conclusion, we all pray to Allah (s.w.t.) to make
our hearts attached to the Holy Qur’an and make us able
to understand its teachings and guidance.
Surah al Ikhlas (112)
Anas mentioned that a man said to the Prophet (salAllahu
alayhi wasalam) , ‘I really love this surah’. The Prophet
replied, ‘And your love for it will enable you to enter paradise’
[at-Tirmidhi 2826/A, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi
Ch.183 #1013]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the
Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said about
the surah, “Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness” (112), ‘By
Him in Whose hand my soul is, it is equal to one third of the
Qur’an!’[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #533, Riyad as-Salihin by
Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]
“Qul Hu Allahu Ahad” is equal to a third of the Qur’an and
“Qul ya ayyuhal Kafirun” is equal to a fourth of the Qur’an.”
[at-Tabarani, classed as Sahih]
Mu’adh bin Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the
Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
“Whoever recites (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) ten times, Allah will
build for him a house in Paradise.”
Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger
of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that “Say: He is
Allah, Absolute Oneness” is equal to a third of the Qur’an.
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183
#1012]
Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radiAllahu anhum)
reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of
reciting half the Qur’an. Whoever recited surah al Kafirun
(109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the
Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a
reward as if reading one third of the Qur’an’.[at-Tirmidhi
2818/A]
Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-
Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will
be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing
except death.”[Narrated by Baraa, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the
Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to his
Companions, “Are any of you unable to recite a third of the
Qur’an in a night?” That was difficult for them and they said,
“Which of us is able to do that, Messenger of Allah?” He
said, “[The surah] ‘Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness,
Allah, the Everlasting Sustainer of all’ (112) constitutes a
third of the Qur’an.’”[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #534, Riyad as-
Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported the Prophet (salAllahu
alayhi wasalam) as saying, “If anyone recites two hundred
times daily, Qul huwallahu ahad the sins of fifty years will be
wiped out, unless he is in debt.”[at-Tirmidhi and Darami].The
latter version has ‘fifty times’ and he did not mention ‘unless
he is in debt’
A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) went to bed every night, he used
to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat
Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his
hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub,
starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to
do that three times.[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #536]
Surah al Falaq (113)
The Prophet said, ‘O Uqba, learn to recite Surah al Falaq, for
you would never recite a surah more cherished by Allah and
more profound in His sight that this surah’[Durais, Ibn al
Anbari, Hakim, Dhahabi & Ibn Mardawaih]
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) used to seek refuge
from the jinn as well as from the evil eye until Surah al Falaq
and An Naas were revealed. When they were sent down, he
utilised them and left other things.[at-Tirmidhi #1984, Riyad
as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1014]
‘Uqba ibn ‘Amir reported that the Messenger of Allah
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Have you not seen the
ayats sent down this night the like of which have never been
seen before? ‘Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Daybreak,’
and ‘Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.’” (113 &
114)[Muslim]
Surah an Nas (114)
A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) became sick, he would recite
Mu’awwidhat (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) and then
blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill,
I used to recite (these two Surahs) and rub his hands over
his body hoping for its blessings.[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61
#535]
‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Amir (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the
messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘No
seeker of refuge can seek refuge with anything like these
two’[abu Dawud]
Surah at Takathur (102)
The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recited one thousand verses in
one night would meet Allah with a smile on his face’.
Someone said, ‘O Apostle, who can recite a thousand
verses?’. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) then
recited Surah at Takathur and then said, ‘By He in Whose
hand my soul is, it is equal to a thousand verses’[Al Khatib in
Al Muttafaq wal Muftaraq & Dailami in Fath al Qadir 5/487]
Surah al Waqiah (56)
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (salAllahu
alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recites surah al Waqiah at
night would never encounter poverty’[Ibn as-Sunni 620,
Bayhaqi]
The Prophet said, ‘Surah al Waqiah is the Surah of Wealth,
so recite it and teach it to your children’[Ibn Asakir]